News
Temitope Osoba: Fiancé Claims Actress Died at Ikorodu Police Station
Prophet Itunu Onadeko, fiancé of late Nollywood actress Temitope Osoba, has claimed that the actress died at a police station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, contrary to reports and social media speculation linking her death to complications from breast cancer.
Onadeko made the claim in an interview with the Celestial Reality Check, the media investigative unit of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), on Saturday.
The prophet, who is the Shepherd-in-Charge of CCC Onibuore Cathedral in the Bogije area of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, also denied several allegations surrounding Osoba’s final days, including claims that she was poisoned, maltreated or subjected to harsh treatment before her death.
According to him, he learnt of the actress’ death from an unidentified caller around midnight.
“It was a random person that called me around 12 am that she died in a police station in Ikorodu,” he said.
Onadeko said he did not know the particular police station where Osoba allegedly died but reported himself at a nearby station after receiving the information.
He explained that Osoba had insisted on visiting one Mrs Kehinde Osoba, who he said also runs a church, shortly before her death.
“She had insisted to see Mrs Kehinde Osoba, she also has a church, although she said she wanted to see me too. When they left for there, I told them that I wasn’t chanced to go that day because of church programmes,” he said.
According to him, the hairdresser with whom Osoba was staying accompanied her on the trip.
“The hairdresser that Tope was sleeping in her place was the person that went with her. We maintained communication and she even posted ‘Ogo tun tun’ until I heard that she died in the police station,” he added.
Fiancé denies cancer caused death
Osoba had previously spoken publicly about her battle with breast cancer, including undergoing treatment and surgery. In 2024, she announced her return to the public after the experience, describing the period as one that brought healing, growth and empowerment.
However, Onadeko insisted that although Osoba had battled cancer and undergone surgery, the illness was not responsible for her death.
“When I first met her, after I did a redemption prayer for her, she told me she wants to do a surgery on cancer. I prayed for her. In fact, the day she planned for her surgery, she did a skit with Boda Wasiu and then we moved to Evacare Hospital,” he said.
He also denied allegations that he had access to money donated to Osoba for her surgery or that he used the funds to build his church.
“Who has an evidence that the money she got for her surgery is N30m? It wasn’t my account they sent the money to, it was hers. And I didn’t use the money to build church as rumoured,” he said.
Onadeko said several people, including businessman Mike Adenuga, supported Osoba financially during her treatment, but maintained that he never had access to the money.
“I met Tope like two years ago and the church has been there since 20 years ago. The church is complete before she even joined us. It has been roofed and painted,” he added.
He denies claims she was prevented from driving
The prophet also rejected claims that Osoba was prevented from driving her car, saying she drove herself when she travelled to Iperu shortly before her death.
“She drove the car out herself. She was going to Iperu one Sunday. I don’t know Iperu that she went to neither do I know who she’s going to meet there but I think it is her mother’s side,” he said.
He said Osoba had reservations about visiting her maternal family because she believed they had not treated her well, but that he encouraged her to maintain contact with them because they were planning to get married.
Onadeko denies maltreatment allegations
Onadeko also denied allegations that Osoba was maltreated before her death, including claims that faeces or urine were poured on her body as punishment for allegedly stealing biscuits.
He said there had never been a situation in which Osoba was subjected to such treatment or placed under duress.
“When we were living together, we borrowed each other money. She bought gold for herself and me. But she eventually sold them and we both spent the money, there has never been a time that we were under duress,” he said.
According to him, the house where Osoba lived belonged to her uncle and was not rented by the couple.
“After the surgery, she gave her uncle N1m when he insisted that he gave her something at least for staying in the house,” he added.
He also dismissed allegations that Osoba drank poison before her death.
Actress had left church weeks before death
Onadeko said Osoba left the church about three weeks before her death.
He said that after learning of her death, he contacted one of her uncles, identified as Taiwo, but that the relative refused to speak with him.
“She’s left the church about three weeks ago before her death. Since she died, I didn’t call any of her family. It was one of her uncles, Taiwo that I called but he was really mad at me and insisted that he doesn’t want to speak with me,” he said.
The prophet also disclosed that Osoba had struggled with smoking and that he had encouraged her to quit.
“She was dealing with smoking habit. And I wanted her to leave it. All the church members know about her smoking habit,” he said.
Osoba died on Wednesday at the age of 40. She is scheduled to be buried on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Iperu Remo, Ogun State.
However, Onadeko’s claims about the circumstances of Osoba’s death could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report, and the exact cause and location of her death remain unconfirmed.
By Chinedu Sabastine
ENUGU — Umuchigbo Iji Nike Autonomous Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State has fixed Sunday, September 13, 2026, for its annual New Yam Festival.
The cultural celebration, which is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m., is being organised under the leadership of the Executive Chairman of Umuchigbo, Hon. Chief Afam Joseph Ogbene, popularly known as Akirika Chioku 1, Na Nike Kingdom.
The festival is expected to showcase the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the people of Umuchigbo and Umuenwene in Iji Nike Autonomous Community, while promoting unity and communal bonding.
Ogbene, in an invitation to the festival, described the celebration as an opportunity for the people to preserve their cultural heritage, strengthen community ties and give thanks for the year’s harvest.
He said, “Our New Yam Festival is more than a cultural celebration. It is a time for us to come together as one people, appreciate our heritage and give thanks for the blessings of the year.”
According to him, the event will also provide an opportunity for sons and daughters of the community, as well as friends and well-wishers, to reconnect and celebrate together.
“We are inviting everyone to come and celebrate with us. It is a celebration of our culture, our community and thanksgiving for the new yam season,” he added.
According to the invitation, activities will commence at Ogbene’s residence on Akirika Chioku Avenue, Nome Ogba Aniji Road, Umuchigbo, before proceeding to Obodoeze Iji Village Square, Odangene, for the New Yam rites and masquerade display.
The event will also feature traditional cuisine, music and other forms of cultural entertainment.
The organisers urged sons and daughters of Umuchigbo, friends, well-wishers and members of the public to join the community in celebrating the festival.
The Nigerian Army has announced a major reshuffle of senior officers, with several major generals and brigadier generals redeployed to key command, operational and administrative positions.
The changes, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, are aimed at strengthening the Army’s operational effectiveness.
Major General IA Ajose has been appointed the new Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI. He moves from the Department of Army Operations at Army Headquarters to take charge of military operations against insurgency in the North-East.
Other notable appointments include:
Major General AE Abubakar — Dean, Faculty of Operational Research, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.
Major General AM Alechenu — Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.
Major General RT Utsaha — Commander, Defence Headquarters Garrison.
Major General AM Umar — Commandant, Army War College Nigeria.
Major General UM Alkali — Director, Department of Civil-Military Affairs.
Major General GS Muhammed — Director General, Nigerian Army Finance Corporation.
Major General JE Osifo — Chairman, Military Pension Board.
Major General IE Ekpenyong — Director of Engineering Services, Defence Logistics, Defence Headquarters.
The reshuffle also affects several brigadier generals, including Brigadier General AA Bello, Brigadier General MS Adamu, Brigadier General MS Sule, Brigadier General I Sule, Brigadier General E Azenda and Brigadier General AS Bugaje, who have all been assigned to new command or administrative roles.
The Chief of Army Staff directed the newly posted officers to carry out their responsibilities with professionalism, dedication and a strong sense of duty.
More than 24 feared dead in suspected poisoning incident in Ondo
More than 24 people have reportedly died following a suspected poisoning incident in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The deaths were recorded in Araromi-Obu, Orita New Town and Odigbo communities, while several other residents affected by the incident are receiving treatment at various hospitals.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed the incident but said he could not provide further details until medical experts conduct a professional assessment and determine the cause of the deaths and illnesses.
As a precaution, the local government has restricted the sale and consumption of sachet herbal concoctions and similar drinks being hawked in the affected communities.
Residents have been advised to avoid suspicious herbal mixtures, unverified sachet products and other substances of uncertain origin pending the outcome of medical examinations and laboratory tests.
Authorities are expected to carry out further investigations to establish the source of the suspected poisoning and confirm the exact cause of the deaths.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Residents of Umudimishi Village, Umuoru, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, have petitioned Governor Chukwuma Soludo over the worsening menace of gully erosion allegedly caused by illegal and unregulated sand mining activities in the community.
The villagers said about 120 buildings are currently threatened by the expanding gully, with some residents already making arrangements to relocate for fear of losing their homes to the erosion.
In the petition addressed to Governor Soludo and copied to the state Ministries of Environment and Works, the villagers alleged that the activities of sand miners posed a serious threat to human lives, property and the continued existence of the community.
The petition, signed by the Chairman of Umudimishi Development Union, Nze Ibeabuchi Umeugochukwu, stated that several homes in the area were located only a few metres from the mining sites and had consequently become vulnerable to erosion.
The villagers said: “Many homesteads in Umudimishi are close to and along the line of mining by few metres and, as a result, stand eroded in the course of this ecological problem fueled by unregulated sand mining.”
They further alleged that the erosion menace was largely triggered by human activities, particularly unregulated sand mining along the Aguata-Orumba axis, where they said the soil structure was highly susceptible to erosion.
According to them, “Erosion menace is being triggered by human factor of unregulated sand mining, especially as it is in Aguata-Orumba Axis where the sand structure is prone to erosion, which is the major environmental hazard in the region.”
The community also claimed that sand mining had become the major source of environmental crises affecting Umudimishi Quarter, Umuoru Village and Uga generally.
Beyond the environmental consequences, the villagers expressed concern that the availability of quick money from sand mining was discouraging youths from learning vocational skills.
They said many youths now preferred sand mining to acquiring skills, while the worsening erosion had also discouraged residents and prospective investors from establishing businesses in the area.
The villagers therefore appealed to Governor Soludo to permanently shut down the mining sites in Umudimishi to prevent further deterioration of the already deplorable environmental situation.
They also urged the governor to direct the appropriate agency of the Anambra State Government to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the erosion sites and produce a comprehensive report with recommendations on how to tackle the problem and reclaim lands already lost to erosion.
The petitioners said urgent intervention by the state government was necessary to protect lives, homes and the remaining land in the community from further destruction.
News
Major Generals to Receive Up to ₦25.91m Yearly as Tinubu Approves New Military Pension Structure
The Federal Government has approved a new pensionable salary structure for personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, effective September 1, 2026.
The approval was communicated in a circular issued on September 3 by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Under the new structure, the highest-ranking officers—Generals, Admirals and Air Chief Marshals—have annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦21.9 million to ₦29.75 million, depending on their salary steps. The highest figure is equivalent to about ₦2.48 million monthly when divided by 12.
Other approved pensionable salary ranges include:
Lieutenant Generals, Vice Admirals and Air Marshals: ₦16.99m–₦25.91m annually.
Major Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals: ₦14.98m–₦23.9m.
Brigadier Generals, Commodores and Air Commodores: ₦13.86m–₦16.39m.
Colonels, Captains and Group Captains: ₦8.31m–₦9.49m.
Lieutenant Colonels, Commanders and Wing Commanders: ₦7.55m–₦8.74m.
Majors, Lieutenant Commanders and Squadron Leaders: ₦5.99m–₦7.01m.
Captains, Lieutenants and Flight Lieutenants: ₦5.28m–₦6.42m.
Second Lieutenants, Midshipmen and Pilot Officers: ₦4.92m–₦5.59m.
The new schedule also covers non-commissioned personnel. Warrant Officers have pensionable salaries ranging from ₦4.53 million to ₦5.17 million annually, while Privates, Ordinary Seamen and Aircraftmen fall within the range of ₦2.28 million to ₦2.49 million.
The government, however, clarified that the figures are pensionable salaries used to calculate retirement benefits and should not be interpreted as the actual monthly salaries or take-home pay of serving military personnel.
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